When any one of the thousand enemies attack, mouse civilisation has only one line of defence

Sunday, 30 August 2015

Trouble Coming In

When the alarm gong rang Pine-needle immediately ran to the tower. The lookout pointed out into the bay. Pine-needle saw the danger immediately. In the water half way from the mainland to Searbay island he could see the bobbing head of a elk. He could even hear its heavy breath roaring through the beasts nostrils as it struggled through the water. He estimated it would reach the island in less than a thousand breaths.

He checked the tower controls and threw the switch that extended the threat flag from the tower's roof in the direction of the danger. Every member of the Core within sight would see the flag and know which way to head. With the signal sent he ran to Core headquarters to get suited.

He could see other Paws suited up and already heading towards the danger as he rushed into the ready area to don his suit. Fortunately he'd finished maintenance on his mecha the day before and it was open and ready for instant use. He jumped into it and the body work clam-shelled shut around him.

When he reached the beach he could see that a plan was already being actioned. Squinting against the sun's glare off the water he could just make out a mecha suited mouse climbing around on the Elks antlers. His confusion at the sight lasted only a breath, when he spotted the trailing rope snaking across the water back to the beach and over to the...catapult.

An entire Paw of suited mice was working to prep the catapault to fire again. He followed the machine's aim. Out in the water was a tiny sharp upraised rocky spire. He grasped the intent and ran to the catapult. If the other end of the rope could be tied to the rock, it would be enough to divert the elk, not enough to hold, but enough to drag its head around.

Pine-needle grabbed the end of the rope and seeing everyone else was busy he tied the end around his armoured middle and climbed into the catapult pocket, ready to be launched out across the water...